Epileptology Clinic

• Specialised outpatient consultations
• Specialist consultations for patients admitted to the Emergency Department or hospitalised, particularly in the Intensive Care Unit
• Prolonged video-EEG recordings (24 hours or several days) for the diagnosis of epilepsy and the pre-surgical assessment of refractory epilepsies in the specialised epilepsy monitoring unit
• Intracranial EEG recordings for the management of refractory epilepsies requiring surgery
• Prolonged inpatient EEG recordings, particularly in the Intensive Care Unit, to diagnose epileptic seizures in critically ill patients, assess neurological prognosis in comatose patients or, for example, detect delayed cerebral ischaemia

Our doctors

• Prof. Nicolas Gaspard, Head of the Neurology Department
• Prof. Chantal Depondt
• Prof. Lorenzo Ferlini
• Dr Romain Tortuyaux
• Dr Sarah Caroyer

Our nursing staff

• Head nurse: Nathalie Buffe
• Deputy head nurse: Didier Depré

Details of the multidisciplinary collaboration of the H.U.B Epileptology Clinic

Neuropaediatrics

Children with epilepsy receive care tailored to their age and development. When routine tests do not make it possible to identify the exact origin of the seizures, doctors may, in certain situations, record the brain’s electrical activity directly using small electrodes temporarily placed inside the brain (intracerebral EEG). This examination makes it possible to locate the area responsible for the seizures with great precision.

Neurosurgery

When medication is not sufficient to control the seizures, surgery may be considered. Depending on the situation, the neurosurgeon may remove or isolate the small area of the brain responsible for the seizures so that it can no longer trigger them. Before this procedure, it may sometimes be necessary to temporarily place fine electrodes in the brain to record brain activity and precisely locate the region responsible for the seizures. When surgery is not possible or is not the best option, other treatments may be offered. In particular, it is possible to implant a small stimulator, comparable to a pacemaker, which sends mild electrical impulses to a nerve in the neck (the vagus nerve) or directly to certain areas of the brain. In some patients, these stimulations can reduce the frequency or intensity of the seizures. In certain very specific situations, a minimally invasive technique using a laser beam (LITT) may also be offered. Guided with very high precision, the laser makes it possible to treat the area responsible for the seizures without open surgery.

Radiology and medical imaging

Imaging examinations (MRI, CT scan, etc.) make it possible to obtain highly detailed images of the brain in order to look for an abnormality that may be responsible for the seizures. Some examinations also show how different regions of the brain function.

Nuclear medicine

A PET scan is an imaging examination that makes it possible to observe how the brain functions by measuring the activity of its different regions. It helps doctors identify the areas involved in the seizures when these are not visible on an MRI.

Interventional neuroradiology

Before certain surgical procedures, specialised examinations make it possible to determine which areas of the brain are involved in essential functions such as language or memory. The team also performs a highly precise mapping of the brain’s blood vessels in order to safely prepare for the placement of electrodes when necessary.

Neuropsychology and Speech Therapy

Tests make it possible to assess memory, attention, concentration, language and other cognitive functions. They help measure the impact of epilepsy on daily life and prepare for possible surgery.

Translational neuroimaging

The clinic has access to cutting-edge technology known as magnetoencephalography (MEG). This completely painless and non-invasive examination measures the very weak magnetic fields naturally produced by brain activity. It makes it possible to locate the areas responsible for the seizures with a very high degree of precision and complements the other examinations. Erasme Hospital is currently the only hospital in Belgium to have this technology.

As an academic hospital and referral centre for the management of complex epilepsies, our clinic places research at the heart of its mission. The scientific knowledge acquired in the laboratory and at patients’ bedsides directly contributes to the improvement of the care, diagnosis and treatments offered.

Our teams participate in numerous national and international research projects, as well as in clinical trials aimed at improving our understanding of the mechanisms of epilepsy, developing new diagnostic approaches and evaluating innovative treatments. 

The scientific publications of our doctors and researchers demonstrate this expertise and their commitment to advancing care for people living with epilepsy.